St Paul's Cathedral - William and Irene Miller Organ Scholarship 2021/22

Introduction

The role of Organ Scholar at St Paul's Cathedral provides an opportunity to work alongside leading musicians in a high profile Cathedral Music Department.

The Organ Scholar

• is expected to continue the development of their musical expertise through practice, performance and observation;
• will receive advice and support in choir training and conducting, liturgical accompaniment, solo playing and improvisation;
• will have the opportunity to conduct in the Cathedral which includes working with the fully professional ensemble of Vicars Choral as well as the Choristers and the professional mixed voice Cathedral Consort;
• will become familiar with the musical and liturgical life of a great Cathedral, together with the daily routines of the musical function within that life and will have the opportunity to assist with the planning for major liturgies and special services; and
• will develop team working and pastoral skills through interaction with colleagues within the Music Department and the Cathedral, and with Vicars Choral and Choristers.

Main Responsibilities

Main Duties

The Organ Scholar will be expected to undertake the following duties:

• accompany the Cathedral Choir at Evensong at least once a week.
• play for some “non-choral” services - including the 5.30pm services on a Sunday.
• provide 25 minutes of music before Sunday Evensong, or before the morning services, as a prelude to the liturgies.                                                         
• provide voluntaries after some services as required.
• perform 3 recitals in the Sunday organ recital series.
• play for visiting choirs on some weekdays and on some Sundays when the Cathedral Choir is on holiday (in rotation with the other organists).
• greet visiting organists and assisting them when required.
• assist the other Cathedral organists at the console for services.
• assist in the training of probationary and other choristers.
• play for Cathedral School assemblies (once a week during term time).
• share in the administrative workload of the Music Department, including typesetting of manuscripts, assisting with the administration for visiting choirs, and attendance at the weekly music department meeting.
• act as Assistant Choir Librarian (approx 3 hours a week).

Additional Opportunities

Additional work opportunities, which are separately remunerated, are as follows:

• playing in short organ and choral recitals for the Corporate Events Department which take place in the evenings;
• playing at special services from time to time; and
• accompanying the St Paul’s Cathedral Chorus in rehearsals.

Responsibilities

The Organ Scholar is responsible for:

• their own musical development;
• taking full advantage of the opportunities offered by this placement;
• taking a share in the administration of the music department; and
• familiarity and compliance with all Cathedral policies but in particular the Cathedral’s Safeguarding Policy and the Cathedral’s Health & Safety Policy.

The Ideal Candidate

The Cathedral Chapter are committed to finding an Organ Scholar who:

• wishes to become an exceptional performer on the organ, both as soloist and    accompanist;
• has a lively interest in and proven experience of working within the English choral tradition;
• is enthusiastic about working with children;
• has an enthusiastic and positive demeanour;
• has an awareness of the rich liturgical and musical heritage of the Church of England;
• is a graduate or will be a graduate by September 2021. Exceptional final year undergraduate students may be considered;
• displays an enterprising and imaginative approach to personal musical development;
• is able to work calmly, particularly when performing at high profile, pressured occasions; and
• is able to work as part of a close-knit team in the Music Department, and also engage with the wider cathedral community.

The successful candidate will be in sympathy with, and in their work support, the Christian aims and mission of St Paul’s Cathedral.

About us

Introduction to working at St Paul’s Cathedral

St Paul’s is an equal opportunities employer and draws together a very diverse set of activities, projections and aspirations.  It is the Cathedral of the Diocese of London and the seat of its Bishop, a national church and an international spiritual focus, a space for worship and holiness, a place of debate and challenge, an icon of resilience in the face of adversity, an architectural heritage centre, a partner in the City of London, and a commercial enterprise. 

Applications should consist of –

1. a completed application form via Pathways
2. your CV uploaded to your Pathways application
3. a letter of application setting out how you meet the requirements of the scholarship, and giving details of why you are applying for it (uploaded to the Documents section of your Portfolio section of your Pathways application); and
4. 3 recent organ recital programmes (uploaded to the Documents section of your Portfolio section of your Pathways application).

Please provide within your application contact details of two referees. We will take up references for applicants who are being considered for the shortlist.

We will not consider any audio or video files or other documents or information uploaded to your Portfolio.

Enquiries: Angela Palotai, Music Department Administrator

telephone 020 7236 6883

e-mail apalotai@stpaulscathedral.org.uk

The closing date for receipt of applications is 12noon on Friday 21^st May 2021.

All applications will be acknowledged on receipt.

Short-listed candidates will be notified by Friday 28^th May 2021.  Interviews/auditions will take place on Tuesday 8^th June 2021 during the morning (or another date if 8^th June clashes with, for example, an examination).